Countdown to Extinction: The 2016 Presidential Election

[Karl Henning]

Evan Bayh is mounting a return bid to the U.S. Senate, giving national Democrats a boost as they aim to retake the chamber in November.

[Karl Henning]

The words "psychopath" and "sociopath", in particular, have shown up in a number of threads on a number of topics.  They have been intellectually trendy for a few years, so it is not surprising.  Variants on narcissism pop up here and there, too.

I'm not offering a qualified opinion, just reporting (e.g.)  I'll be certain in future, when referring to El Tupé as a narcissist, to specify that the diagnosis is not my own.

[Brian]

Evan Bayh is mounting a return bid to the U.S. Senate, giving national Democrats a boost as they aim to retake the chamber in November.

Is that really a boost? Dude was a big name 20 years ago...

[(poco) Sforzando]

I'm not offering a qualified opinion, just reporting (e.g.)  I'll be certain in future, when referring to El Tupé as a narcissist, to specify that the diagnosis is not my own.

Well, yes. Google "Trump narcissist" or "Trump sociopath" or "Trump megalomaniac" or "Trump egomaniac" and you will find dozens of entries each maintaining the same point - some in fact by professionally qualified psychologists. And even if technically one is right to invoke the Goldwater rule or any other standard of professional conduct, we're not just talking about one individual's personal privacy and the stakes are much too high for me to be impressed by such niceties. Even our friend Brian writes, "I do personally believe Trump is mentally ill, but with the understanding that, no matter how many symptoms he displays, it will not be a proven fact." But proven fact or no, something about Trump has led Brian and numerous others to that belief, which I doubt he would share towards Mitt Romney, John McCain, John Boehner, Paul Ryan, or any number of additional names on what I'm fairly certain he would consider on the other side of the aisle.

[Jo498]

So if Trump becomes president, Karl can compose a bunch of Songs For a Mad President...

[(poco) Sforzando]

So if Trump becomes president, Karl can compose a bunch of Songs For a Mad President...

. . . using as texts The Donald's tweets . . . .

[Brian]

. . . using as texts The Donald's tweets . . . .

Karl, please do this.

Songs for a Mad President
on texts by Donald Trump
for shouter and marimba

[North Star]

Karl, please do this.

Songs for a Mad President
on texts by Donald Trump
for shouter and marimba

That's a brilliant idea! Something to perform alongside The Mysterious Fruit, Op.124.

[Mirror Image]

Karl, please do this.

Songs for a Mad President
on texts by Donald Trump
for shouter and marimba

Lol! That would be awesome!

[Karl Henning]

Make the Marimba Great Again!

[North Star]

I know that human beings and marimbas can coexist peacefully.

[Rinaldo]

Make the Marimba Great Again!

(* chortle *)

When Scandinavia sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems to us. They're bringing harps. They're bringing chimes. They're symphonists.. And some, I assume, are good people..

[Sergeant Rock]

(* chortle *)

When Scandinavia sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems to us. They're bringing harps. They're bringing chimes. They're symphonists.. And some, I assume, are good people..

Sarge

[Ken B]

Well, yes. Google "Trump narcissist" or "Trump sociopath" or "Trump megalomaniac" or "Trump egomaniac" and you will find dozens of entries each maintaining the same point - some in fact by professionally qualified psychologists. And even if technically one is right to invoke the Goldwater rule or any other standard of professional conduct, we're not just talking about one individual's personal privacy and the stakes are much too high for me to be impressed by such niceties. Even our friend Brian writes, "I do personally believe Trump is mentally ill, but with the understanding that, no matter how many symptoms he displays, it will not be a proven fact." But proven fact or no, something about Trump has led Brian and numerous others to that belief, which I doubt he would share towards Mitt Romney, John McCain, John Boehner, Paul Ryan, or any number of additional names on what I'm fairly certain he would consider on the other side of the aisle.

I forgot. I asked my friend, former head of psychiatry at a major hospital, about your diagnosis.  Eye rolling derision.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I forgot. I asked my friend, former head of psychiatry at a major hospital, about your diagnosis.  Eye rolling derision.

Aw, I'm crushed.

[Ken B]

Aw, I'm crushed.

Oh if I am sure of one thing it is that refutation never affects you.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Oh if I am sure of one thing it is that refutation never affects you.

Certainty is always to be embraced in an uncertain world.

[Karl Henning]

"Something about the Clintons sets the GOP to howling at the moon."

As I have repeatedly said ere now, I am neither Republican nor a fan of Clinton;  but Mr Cohen here does seem to me to have a point.

[(poco) Sforzando]

"Something about the Clintons sets the GOP to howling at the moon."

As I have repeatedly said ere now, I am neither Republican nor a fan of Clinton;  but Mr Cohen here does seem to me to have a point.

Cohen: "Their [Republican] denunciations of her are so at variance with even the contested facts that it suggests a psychosis — "

But isn't Mr. Cohen here indulging in the unpardonable sin of making a diagnosis of the mental instability of not just one sick individual, but all members of an entire political party? And doesn't this violate the all-important Goldwater Rule? Shouldn't this blatant lack of intellectual honesty be referred immediately to some former head of psychiatry at a major hospital for that oh-so-professional response, eye-rolling derision? And where are the GMG Thought Police now, when they should be solemnly wagging their fingers at this pseudo-scientific attempt at amateur psychiatric analysis? O tempora, o mores!

[Karl Henning]

Well, I might argue that his writing that it suggests a psychosis is in fact charitable, as it speculates medical impairment rather than shady morality.  Mr Cohen wants to think the best of the snuffling herd.